TAEKWON-DO

 

CONCEPT DEFINITION

 

 

So what does the word "tae kwon do" mean? In a sense, tae kwon do is a way of life.

 

Simply put, Taekwon-Do is one of the arts of self-defense without weapons. But that's not all.

 

It is a scientifically grounded way of using your body for self-defense, which allows you, after intensive physical and spiritual training, to expand the range of your individual abilities to an unprecedented degree.

 

It is a martial art unrivaled in power and efficiency. Discipline, technique and spirit are the means to develop a sense of justice, firmness, humanism and purposefulness in those who practice it. It is spiritual culture that distinguishes the true master from the dilettante, who perfects only the technical aspects of martial arts.

 

The above are just some of the aspects that make it possible to understand why taekwondo is an art of self-defense. The concept of "taekwon-do" also includes a way of thinking and living that manifests itself in particular in mastering, drop by drop, high morality, the concept n spirit of self-discipline. Taekwon-do is almost a cult.

 

The Korean "tae" means "to strike with the foot in a jump or flight," "kwon" means "fist" (mainly in the context of striking or smashing something with the hand), "do" means "art," and "path" means the path of truth, the path of the past, covered in holiness and wisdom. Putting it all together, we get that the word "taekwon-do" refers to a system of spiritual training n techniques of self-defense without weapons, along with health, as well as skilled execution of punches, blocks and jumps performed with bare hands and feet to defeat one or more opponents.

 

Taekwon-do allows the weak to gain powerful weapons and master the confidence to be able to defend themselves and others.

 

Improper use of taekwon-do can lead to fatalities. To prevent this, it is necessary to constantly focus on improving the moral qualities of those involved.

 

As for the fair sex, they will undoubtedly find tae kwon do invaluable when there is a need to free themselves from the harassment of some intrusive men. In the vast majority of cases, the stories that a woman was able to stand up for herself are perceived as tall tales. However, by mastering the techniques of taekwondo, women really can do it.

 

There are many spectacular tricks in taekwon-do. The following are examples:

 

- Kicking a jumping leg after jumping over a motorcycle or standing in a line of 11 people;

 

- smashing a thick board fixed at the height of three meters with the leg;

 

- smashing two bricks with the palm of the hand;

 

- smashing a stack of 18 cm thick pine boards with a fist;

 

- successive attack of two targets with the same foot in a jump, etc.

 

 

To the man on the street, such tricks seem supernatural. For those who are seriously engaged in taekwondo and demonstrate it themselves, there is nothing supernatural about it. This does not mean that in the process of taekwondo lessons you will be required to perform something impossible.

 

In particular, in order to prove that someone is able to kill a wild bull with his bare hands, it is not necessary to actually kill the animal. It is possible to demonstrate the power of blows by performing equivalent in difficulty tasks, just as in other types of martial arts (for example, breaking a stack of pine boards)

 

Continuous training is a prerequisite for maintaining good form and physical condition. During the training all the muscles of the body are loaded. Only by learning to control your muscles is it possible to summarize the power developed by each of them while performing movements. After mastering this skill, it is necessary to learn how to transfer this power to the opponent's body (including the one that is in motion), directing it to the body areas where the vulnerable points are located. During this period of training it is necessary to constantly remind the students that taekwondo was created as the art of self-defense, aimed at quickly disarming the moving aggressor.

 

The majority of offensive actions in taekwondo are based on the interaction of two forces. The first one is connected with the impact on the opponent's body as a result of a blow and the second one is connected with the inertia of the opponent's moving body segments.

 

By correctly using the advancing motion of the opponent's body, it is enough to inflict a weak counter-punch to topple him.

 

The masters of tae kwon do, as well as those of this type of martial arts, perform their actions automatically, without thinking about it for a second. One could say that their actions have become conditioned reflexes.

 

Readers would probably notice that throughout the book the need for systematic training to master the technique of defensive and attacking actions is emphasized. The hours spent in the training room will not be in vain. Surely you will be fully rewarded by acquiring lightning-fast reaction and practicing strong blows that fall in hail on your opponent both when it is necessary to save your life and in other cases.

 

Even if you practice taekwon-do only for recreational purposes, the enjoyment gained in the process will fully justify the time spent. "Recreational" taekwondo is equally suitable for young and old, women and men.